Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

By MICHAEL GANNON

Norwich Bulletin

July 16, 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney has raised more money in the last three months than his Republican opponent, Sean Sullivan, has during his entire campaign and has about a 9-1 cash-in-hand advantage, according to reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

With 110 days until Election Day, Courtney was preparing to report having more than $1.43 million still in his campaign coffers. Sullivan’s camp is reporting $154,513.04.

Courtney’s campaign issued a statement saying it will report having raised approximately $335,000 in the second quarter of 2008 and approximately $1.845 million for the campaign.

Courtney’s exact figures were not available on the Web site of the Federal Election Commission, but a commission spokeswoman said Tuesday they were not due until midnight.

The freshman congressman used the occasion to state some goals if he wins a second term.

“There is far more work to be done, including developing a sensible approach to reforming our nation’s energy policies and strengthening our economy,” he said.

Sullivan, the former commander of the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, filed paperwork listing contributions for the quarter ending June 30 at $85,537 and a total of $319,057.10 in contributions for the campaign.

“I am pleased that the donations coming to support our effort are almost exclusively from individual contributors,” Sullivan said in a statement released by his campaign. “ ... and I am honored that they are responding to my call for energy independence, lower taxes and smaller, more economical government.”

By the numbers

Fundraising for the fiscal quarter ending June 30:

Joe Courtney, Democrat

Total contributions: $1.845 million.

2nd quarter contributions: $335,000.

Cash remaining: $1.435 million

Source: Joe Courtney for Congress.


Sean Sullivan, Republican

Total contributions: $319,057.10

2nd quarter contributions: $85,537.

Cash remaining: $154,513.04.

Sources: Federal Election Commission and Sullivan for Congress.